Key numbers
103 verified hail storms with stones of 1.5 inches or larger reached El Paso County, which includes Colorado Springs, from 2000 to 2025 in the storm records we keep; the largest measured 4.5 inches (softball size) on July 13, 2011 (NOAA NCEI).
| Hail storms by decade, 2000 to 2025 | 2000s: 35, 2010s: 44, 2020s: 24 Source: Storm library: El Paso County hail history |
|---|---|
| Largest hail | 4.5 in. (softball), July 13, 2011 Source: NOAA NCEI |
| Costliest hail storm | $352.8 million insured losses (2016 dollars), July 28, 2016 Source: RMIIA |
| About 620 | One inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof produces about 620 gallons of water that gutters must carry away. Source: Texas A&M AgriLife |
| 20 | NAHB's 2007 study puts gutter life at more than 50 years for copper and 20 years for aluminum. Source: National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America Home Equity, 2007 |
| 10 | In a 2019 IBHS ember-storm test, the half of a house with cedar siding, vinyl gutters and bark mulch ignited after 10 minutes, while the half with fiber cement siding, metal gutters and gravel survived. Source: IIBEC, 2019 |
A storm counts when the library lists El Paso County among the areas it hit. Each hail size is the storm's largest report, which may have fallen in a neighboring county, and insured losses cover every area the storm hit.
The right gutter for a Colorado Springs home is usually a seamless K-style gutter with properly sized downspouts, because it carries the most water for its size and has no joints to split when trapped water freezes. Older homes with traditional trim may call for half-round, and some historic or commercial buildings have built-in box gutters. Integrity Roofing and Painting installs every common style, and we start with a free assessment of your roof, fascia and drainage before recommending one.
Gutter types compared
| Type | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Seamless | Most homes; long runs with no joints | Damage means replacing a whole run |
| K-style | Highest capacity for its width; fits most fascia | Inside corners collect debris |
| Half-round | Older and traditional homes | Holds less water than K-style |
| Box-style | Built-in gutters on historic and commercial buildings | Hidden leaks into the structure |
| Sectional | Short runs, sheds, budget repairs | A joint every section that can leak |
Any of these can take a gutter guard, and on a lot with pine trees, guards are worth a look.
Every profile above is available in all common residential sizes, in copper, aluminum or steel. For guards, we install LeafGuard, a one-piece gutter with a built-in hood; our gutter guard guide compares it neutrally with mesh, screen, foam and brush guards.
What Colorado Springs weather does to gutters
- Freeze and thaw. When snow melts during the day and refreezes at night, water left standing in a poorly pitched gutter freezes, expands and pulls hangers loose. Clear downspouts and correct pitch matter more here than in milder climates. Our snow and ice damage page explains how ice dams start.
- Hail. Aluminum gutters dent easily, and dented gutters are one of the first things we look at during a hail damage inspection.
- Hard downpours. A short, intense thunderstorm can overwhelm an undersized gutter. Larger roofs and steep slopes may need larger gutters or extra downspouts.
- Pine needles. Homes near the foothills and in wooded areas such as Black Forest collect needles that slip through some screen guards. Clearing roofs and gutters of needles and leaves is also a basic wildfire-readiness habit. Our gutters and wildfire embers guide covers the noncombustible gutter rule in wildfire areas.
Rain barrels are legal here
Since 2016, Colorado law lets a single-family home use up to 2 rain barrels holding a combined 110 gallons, filled from the roof and used outdoors. If you want one, tell us before we lay out the downspouts so one lands where a barrel makes sense.
Gutters and your roof work as one system
Gutters hang under the drip edge, which the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department requires at the eaves and rakes of shingle roofs. When we replace a roof, we check that the drip edge laps into the gutter so water cannot run behind it and rot the fascia. Read more in our guides to the best gutters for Colorado Springs homes and what new gutters cost.
If a gutter is already giving you trouble, our exterior problems guide covers ice in gutters and gutters pulling away from the house.
Who installs your gutters
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, BBB accredited with an A+ rating, and a member of the Colorado Roofing Association, with 650+ Google reviews. Book a free inspection or call (719) 488-2800. Gutters can be part of a financed project.
Sources: Colorado General Assembly, HB 16-1005 (rain barrels); PPRBD Reroofing Guidelines (rev. 03/05/2024).
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